Objective To examine whether adherence to the modified Mediterranean diet, in which unsaturates were substituted for monounsaturates, is associated with longer life expectancy among elderly Europeans. Design Multicentre, prospective cohort study. Setting Nine European countries

Background and Purpose-The relationship between in-hospital stroke-related medical complications and clinical outcome remains unclear. We examined whether medical complications were associated with length of stay (LOS) and mortality among stroke unit patients. Methods-Using population-based Danish medical registries, we performed a follow-up study among all patients with acute stroke admitted to stroke units in 2 counties between 2003 and 2009 (nϭ13 721). Data regarding in-hospital medical complications, including pneumonia, urinary tract infection, pressure ulcer, falls, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and severe constipation together with LOS and mortality were prospectively registered. Results-Overall, 25.2% of patients (nϭ3453) experienced 1 or more medical complications during hospitalization. The most common complications were urinary tract infection (15.4%), pneumonia (9.0%), and constipation (6.8%). Median LOS was 13 days (25th and 75th quartiles, 5 and 33). All medical complications were associated with longer LOS. The adjusted relative LOS extension ranged from 1.80 (95% CI, 1.54 -2.11) for pneumonia to 3.06 (95% CI, 2.67-3.52) for falls. Patients with 1 or more complications had an increased 1-year mortality rate (adjusted mortality rate ratio [MRR], 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04 -1.39). The association was mainly because of pneumonia, which was associated with higher mortality both after 30 days (adjusted MRR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.31-1.93) and 1 year (adjusted MRR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.45-2.14). Conclusions-In-hospital medical complications were associated with longer LOS and some, in particular pneumonia, also with an increased mortality among patients with acute stroke. (Stroke. 2011;42:3214-3218.)

Overall dietary patterns have been associated with health and longevity. We used principal component (PC) and cluster analyses to identify the prevailing dietary patterns of 99 744 participants, aged 60 years or older, living in nine European countries and participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Elderly cohort) and to examine their socio-demographic and lifestyle correlates. Two PC were identified: PC1 reflects a 'vegetable-based' diet with an emphasis on foods of plant origin, rice, pasta and other grain rather than on margarine, potatoes and non-alcoholic beverages. PC2 indicates a 'sweet-and fat-dominated' diet with a preference for sweets, added fat and dairy products but not meat, alcohol, bread and eggs. PC1 was

These findings give some support to the hypothesis that the IGF axis is involved in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke.